Configuring External Editor and Open Functions F3 F4

[Phred]

I've searched hard in this forum for up-to-date information on how to configure the 'Associated Program' and 'Associated Editor' options under Tools, 'Open with'.

I've found some reference to Folder Options, Advanced.. but that seems to relate to the last millennium-designed Windows XP. I can’t find the distinction between Open and Edit carried over into Vista or Windows 7. XnView seems to have no control of its own.

Help under the Browser section is > blank <. Empty. Can anyone provide more information on setting up the F3 and F4 functions to open and edit images with programs of our choice?
I prefer not to load up my context menus because of a slow right-click through my KVM box. Keyboard shortcuts are preferred.

[xnview]

'Associated Program' and 'Associated Editor' are configured in windows as 'open' and 'edit' action

[fdrlook]

You have to edit registry key. More info: http://superuser.com/questions/68852/ch ... image-file

For example, associated editor is Photoshop 64-bit:
1) Start>regedit
2) HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\edit\command
3) Change the value in the default string ("%systemroot%\system32\mspaint.exe" "%1") to "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4 (64 Bit)\Photoshop.exe" "%1"

[Phred]

I must admit that I didn't take this any further, until today, when the absence of any reference to the F3 and F4 function keys in Help annoyed me enough to reawaken my pursuit of it.
Even after more sweat and gnashing of teeth I forgot that I had asked the question four years ago, and so it's worth bulking up this thread as a contribution to the 'XnView Missing Manual'.
fdrlook's post was very helpful, taking me to a couple of other sources, primary amongst them the piece of donation-supported software 'Default Programs Editor'.
http://defaultprogramseditor.com/
Running that program in your current context - sign-on, account, desktop - allows you to edit the context menu (right-click menu) for particular types of files, in your file manager of choice - File Explorer, Windows Explorer, Total Commander, ..etc. How many years Open, Edit, Print, Preview, etc.. have sat there without my knowing how to change them, I don't know, but now I have a new skill. An overwhelming feeling of success...

So, it's time to add some tags for the poor hunters of the inexplicably unmentioned capability: "Associated Program F3" "Associated Editor F4" "Open with" "File Open with".

[XnTriq]

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